In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner (4 Mar. 2004)

When he daughter of a retired police officer and a male friend are found beaten to death, Lynley brings in the recently demoted Havers to help.

Director:

Sebastian Graham Jones

Writers:

Elizabeth George (novel), Ann-Marie di Mambro (screenplay)

Stars:

Tom Lawrence, Emma Willis, Nathaniel Parker

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Tom Lawrence	...	Gerry Cole
Emma Willis	...	Nicola Maiden
Nathaniel Parker	...	Inspector Thomas Lynley
Sharon Small	...	Detective Constable Barbara Havers
David Burke	...	DSI Webberley
Caroline Hayes	...	Samantha Blair
Al Weaver	...	Billy Slavin
Jack Deam	...	Hanken
Lesley Vickerage	...	Helen Lynley
Barbara Wilshere	...	Dr. Kennedy
Sorcha Cusack	...	Nan Maiden
Timothy West	...	Andy Maiden
Simon Williams	...	Jeremy Britton
Tom Burke	...	Julian Britton
Marlene Sidaway	...	Mrs. Baden

Storyline

DI Lynley investigates the death of Nicola Maiden and Gerry Cole who were beaten to death while out camping. Nicola's father Andy Maiden is a retired police officer but neither of her parents know, or will admit to knowing, who Cole is and thought she was seeing Julian Britton. Andy believes she was killed as a means of getting back at him and offers to go through his old files. The investigation reveals that Nicola worked for Martin Reeve, the owner of an escort agency. She had recently quit and set off on her own. Andy had also put him away once, for 10 years, leading to the break-up of Reeve's marriage. When another murder occurs, it sends the investigation in a different direction involving a theft and blackmail. Sgt. Havers finds herself demoted and back in uniform for having shot a flare pistol at a senior officer who had put a child in danger. Lynley manages to get her assigned to the case and hopes she will take the opportunity to rehabilitate her reputation and her career.

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Plot Keywords:

blackmail | detective series | prime suspect | best selling author | confession | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

PBS [United States]

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 March 2004 (UK)

Filming Locations:

University of Manchester, Manchester, Greater Manchester, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), WGBH

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Goofs

Lyndley's posture as he supports himself with his arms during the questioning of Reeves changes from close-up to medium shot.

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Quotes

Inspector Thomas Lynley: Where were you on Monday night?
Jeremy Britton: Oh, please, Inspector!
[sighs]
Jeremy Britton: I love my son... enough to not want to marry a whore but not enough to risk my libery for him.
[Moves closer]
Jeremy Britton: If you must know, I was here as alwaus with my old friend Jack Daniels.

User Reviews

Lynley and a demoted Havers on a case

Inspector Lynley (Nathaniel Parker) and his partner Havers (Sharon Small) are "In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner" in this 2004 Inspector Lynley mystery.

As the story begins, Havers has been demoted for shooting a flare pistol at a senior officer whom she believed had put a child in danger. She's back in uniform and lucky not be directing traffic.

Lynley, meanwhile, investigates the murder of an ex-police officer's daughter Nicole and another man, with whom she was camping. The man is identified as Gerry Cole, though her parents claim she was seeing Julian Britton.

The story gets more and more intricate as we learn that Nicole and her roommate were working for an escort agency until just recently, when they had quit and started their own agency. Since her father believes she was killed in retaliation for putting someone away during his career, Lynley manages to get Havers assigned to him so that she can go through the files.

Havers, however, has a different idea and investigates on her own, infuriating Lynley.

Really good mystery that includes another murder. blackmail. and theft. As for suspects, take your pick: Julian's cousin, who is in love with Julian, an author who has just risen to prominence, Julian himself, and Julian's drunken and often violent father.

Nathaniel Parker is handsome as ever and very good as Lynley, who this time loses it once or twice with the feisty Havers, well-played by Sharon Small Havers really has some nerve in this episode as she repeatedly defies Lynley in spite of hoping to get her old rank back.

Highly entertaining.